Monday, November 05, 2007
alien decision
The Conference Panel was the big event. Everyone would be there, either to speak, present data, offer counter discussion or to just enjoy the spectacle. Most Gloppits, depending upon their assignments, would only experience one Conference Panel in their lifetimes, they could be so rare.
~~~~~~~
The gallery nearly held its' breath for the anticipation of the main speaker, Ghotumassa. As she approached the center of the circle, her accumulated wisdom and experience virtually shone about her. Ghotumassa was not here to present data or debate the issue. No, she would make a statement of how she felt and the weight of her words meant plenty. What she said would give a dramatic emphasis to the prevailing opinion or if she should counter that opinion it was likely that mass discussion would break out and the Conference Panel would ultimately adjourn until a later time. Ghotumassa could surprise or confirm.
In the center of the circle she didn't speak but just calmly viewed all The Gloppits, slowly completeing a full turn until she returned to the front mark. Here she mentally gathered herself and began her remarks.
"Our kind has a duty, it is our reason for existence. Since the Great Emergence of our past, we have followed this duty for thousands of generations and through the vastness of space." Ghotumassa paused. She thought, "it's important to express this at the beginning despite all Gloppits knowing it deep within."
Continuing to the gallery, "We come together to decide the fate of a species. We've made many Species Population Adjustments throughout our existence and this is another to be faced. We do not do this for fun, or for anger, it is what we do. We do not shy from this task, if the task is to be done, and we do not adjust unless we have researched it to perfection."
Ghotumassa gazed at the gallery and saw the swaying of agreement. No one could disagree with her opening remarks. She shifted and continued. "We've been studying this species for a long time now, several hundred years by their time standard. We know all their languages, their history, their motivations and their genetics. Research has accumulated to all-knowing."
"We had hoped that sometime during our research that the species would change their exploitive ways. They've had the information they needed to do so if they had desired. They indeed know that they are subjecting their home world to extreme stresses and they exist with the knowledge that they casually exterminate other species that they share their world with. They are winning a war against the other life forms, yet don't understand that they are even in a war of their choice. They wage this war and have not found the ethics needed to stop."
She had summarized the research, the data had already been presented. Her talent was to get everyone focused on the basic task and whether to perform the duty.
"Our eternal purpose is to intervene against any dominant species of a planet that can't evolve beyond destroying the other species that don't threaten them on that planet. We are here to judge this species."
The gallery of Gloppits visually set their bodies in anticipation, Ghotumassa could see this, she could feel it. Her experience told her that they were ready for her decision.
"The time has come to act. This species has reached an apex of recklessness that must be controlled. It is our duty. Eventually this species will come to understand that they will be treated as they have treated other species. They will understand that their near extinction was in effect, their own fault. The Species Population Adjustment must commence. These Humans must be given the treatment. I propose that the project be named from something in their language which is appropriate. We must begin a countdown for Project Do Unto Others."
Everyone in the gallery shifted into a different position as they began to contemplate Ghotumassa's words. She left the center and returned to her place in the galley. She also began to think and to feel her own words and the importance of what she delivered. It was said, she knew nearly certainly what would happen next.
~~~~~~~
The gallery nearly held its' breath for the anticipation of the main speaker, Ghotumassa. As she approached the center of the circle, her accumulated wisdom and experience virtually shone about her. Ghotumassa was not here to present data or debate the issue. No, she would make a statement of how she felt and the weight of her words meant plenty. What she said would give a dramatic emphasis to the prevailing opinion or if she should counter that opinion it was likely that mass discussion would break out and the Conference Panel would ultimately adjourn until a later time. Ghotumassa could surprise or confirm.
In the center of the circle she didn't speak but just calmly viewed all The Gloppits, slowly completeing a full turn until she returned to the front mark. Here she mentally gathered herself and began her remarks.
"Our kind has a duty, it is our reason for existence. Since the Great Emergence of our past, we have followed this duty for thousands of generations and through the vastness of space." Ghotumassa paused. She thought, "it's important to express this at the beginning despite all Gloppits knowing it deep within."
Continuing to the gallery, "We come together to decide the fate of a species. We've made many Species Population Adjustments throughout our existence and this is another to be faced. We do not do this for fun, or for anger, it is what we do. We do not shy from this task, if the task is to be done, and we do not adjust unless we have researched it to perfection."
Ghotumassa gazed at the gallery and saw the swaying of agreement. No one could disagree with her opening remarks. She shifted and continued. "We've been studying this species for a long time now, several hundred years by their time standard. We know all their languages, their history, their motivations and their genetics. Research has accumulated to all-knowing."
"We had hoped that sometime during our research that the species would change their exploitive ways. They've had the information they needed to do so if they had desired. They indeed know that they are subjecting their home world to extreme stresses and they exist with the knowledge that they casually exterminate other species that they share their world with. They are winning a war against the other life forms, yet don't understand that they are even in a war of their choice. They wage this war and have not found the ethics needed to stop."
She had summarized the research, the data had already been presented. Her talent was to get everyone focused on the basic task and whether to perform the duty.
"Our eternal purpose is to intervene against any dominant species of a planet that can't evolve beyond destroying the other species that don't threaten them on that planet. We are here to judge this species."
The gallery of Gloppits visually set their bodies in anticipation, Ghotumassa could see this, she could feel it. Her experience told her that they were ready for her decision.
"The time has come to act. This species has reached an apex of recklessness that must be controlled. It is our duty. Eventually this species will come to understand that they will be treated as they have treated other species. They will understand that their near extinction was in effect, their own fault. The Species Population Adjustment must commence. These Humans must be given the treatment. I propose that the project be named from something in their language which is appropriate. We must begin a countdown for Project Do Unto Others."
Everyone in the gallery shifted into a different position as they began to contemplate Ghotumassa's words. She left the center and returned to her place in the galley. She also began to think and to feel her own words and the importance of what she delivered. It was said, she knew nearly certainly what would happen next.
